CHAPTER V.

OnthemorningappointedforAdmiralandMrsCroft’sseeingKellynchHall,AnnefounditmostnaturaltotakeheralmostdailywalktoLadyRussell’s,andkeepoutofthewaytillallwasoverwhenshefounditmostnaturaltobesorrythatshehadmissedtheopportunityofseeingthem. Thismeetingofthetwopartiesprovedhighlysatisfactory,anddecidedthewholebusinessatonce.Eachladywaspreviouslywelldisposedforanagreement,andsawnothing,therefore,butgoodmannersintheotherandwithregardtothegentlemen,therewassuchanheartygoodhumour,suchanopen,trustingliberalityontheAdmiral’sside,ascouldnotbutinfluenceSirWalter,whohadbesidesbeenflatteredintohisverybestandmostpolishedbehaviourbyMrShepherd’sassurancesofhisbeingknown,byreport,totheAdmiral,asamodelofgoodbreeding. Thehouseandgrounds,andfurniture,wereapproved,theCroftswereapproved,terms,time,everything,andeverybody,wasrightandMrShepherd’sclerksweresettowork,withouttherehavingbeenasinglepreliminarydifferencetomodifyofallthat“Thisindenturesheweth.” SirWalter,withouthesitation,declaredtheAdmiraltobethebest-lookingsailorhehadevermetwith,andwentsofarastosay,thatifhisownmanmighthavehadthearrangingofhishair,heshouldnotbeashamedofbeingseenwithhimanywhereandtheAdmiral,withsympatheticcordiality,observedtohiswifeastheydrovebackthroughthepark,“Ithoughtweshouldsooncometoadeal,mydear,inspiteofwhattheytoldusatTaunton.TheBaronetwillneversettheThamesonfire,butthereseemstobenoharminhim.”—reciprocalcompliments,whichwouldhavebeenesteemedaboutequal. TheCroftsweretohavepossessionatMichaelmasandasSirWalterproposedremovingtoBathinthecourseoftheprecedingmonth,therewasnotimetobelostinmakingeverydependentarrangement. LadyRussell,convincedthatAnnewouldnotbeallowedtobeofanyuse,oranyimportance,inthechoiceofthehousewhichtheyweregoingtosecure,wasveryunwillingtohaveherhurriedawaysosoon,andwantedtomakeitpossibleforhertostaybehindtillshemightconveyhertoBathherselfafterChristmasbuthavingengagementsofherownwhichmusttakeherfromKellynchforseveralweeks,shewasunabletogivethefullinvitationshewished,andAnnethoughdreadingthepossibleheatsofSeptemberinallthewhiteglareofBath,andgrievingtoforegoalltheinfluencesosweetandsosadoftheautumnalmonthsinthecountry,didnotthinkthat,everythingconsidered,shewishedtoremain.Itwouldbemostright,andmostwise,and,thereforemustinvolveleastsufferingtogowiththeothers. Somethingoccurred,however,togiveheradifferentduty.Mary,oftenalittleunwell,andalwaysthinkingagreatdealofherowncomplaints,andalwaysinthehabitofclaimingAnnewhenanythingwasthematter,wasindisposedandforeseeingthatsheshouldnothaveaday’shealthalltheautumn,entreated,orratherrequiredher,foritwashardlyentreaty,tocometoUppercrossCottage,andbearhercompanyaslongassheshouldwanther,insteadofgoingtoBath. “IcannotpossiblydowithoutAnne,”wasMary’sreasoningandElizabeth’sreplywas,“ThenIamsureAnnehadbetterstay,fornobodywillwantherinBath.” Tobeclaimedasagood,thoughinanimproperstyle,isatleastbetterthanbeingrejectedasnogoodatallandAnne,gladtobethoughtofsomeuse,gladtohaveanythingmarkedoutasaduty,andcertainlynotsorrytohavethesceneofitinthecoun